Adaptable programming guide for networked devices

ABSTRACT

An electronic content guide is disclosed. The electronic content guide preferably includes a source field for listing content sources and output devices. The electronic content guide also includes a first content field for listing schedule data corresponding to first content data presently available for viewing from each one of the content sources and for listing display information corresponding to the first content data being displayed for viewing at a present time by each one of the output devices. Preferably, the source field and the first content field are displayable in parallel columns. The electronic content guide can also include a second content field, displayable in a column parallel to the source field and the first content field, corresponding to a second content data. In one embodiment, the first content data from each content source can be displayed simultaneously on more than one of the output devices.

RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/846,096 filed on May 14, 2004, which in turn claims thebenefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application Ser.No. 60/470,748 filed May 14, 2003 and is a continuation in part of Ser.No. 10/000,495 filed Oct. 30, 2001, which in turn claims the benefitunder 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.60/244,790 filed Oct. 31, 2000 and is a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/909,676 filed on Jul. 19, 2001, which inturn claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/233,581 filed Sep. 19, 2000, as well as U.S.provisional application Ser. No. 60/219,857 filed on Jul. 20, 2000, allof which are incorporated by reference into the present application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems for and methods of distributingcontent data. More specifically, this invention relates to an apparatusand method of formatting an on-screen programming guide that isadaptable to both a variety of content sources and output devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional media services provide scheduled programs on viewingdevices, such as a television set. Standard broadcast services providechannels that can be received by virtually any television tuner throughan antenna connector. At the same time, cable services typically offerpackages of preselected channels to the consumers and that required adecoder at the television tuner or on the cable line at an externallocation. Cable services continuously broadcast scheduled programmingthrough a pre-selected set of channels which are received through acable connector on a television set. There are also a number ofpay-per-view services that allow consumers to receive premium programtransmissions through the cable network. Other available servicesinclude satellite programming services that provide a service similar tothat provided by cable services. Some cable or satellite services allowconsumers to select on demand pay-per view-programs from a set ofavailable programs.

With the number of available TV channels increasing, the viewer has awide range of programs from which to choose. Search and selection ofdesired programming for a consumer can be time consuming. Channelsurfing is no longer fast enough to allow getting an overview of allchannels. Daily newspapers and other paper publications have longprovided channel listings, often using a grid format that shows whatprograms are on what channel at what time. However, the amount of TVprograms typically exceed the limits of what can reasonably be printed.Further, a newspaper or other publication is not always available to theviewer when the viewer decides to watch television. Attempting to meetthis problem of information overload and changing requirements, set-topboxes and televisions with integrated electronic program guides (“EPGs”)have emerged.

Electronic program guides are on-screen guides or programming schedulesthat provide program listings for channels that are broadcast orprovided by a cable system. Prior art electronic program guides offeronline searching through program listings and schedules by genre, titleor data. When a television viewer uses such a schedule, the viewer canfind a program of interest, identify the channel, and enter the numberinto a remote control device.

One such prior art electronic program guide is shown in FIG. 1. Theprior art guide 100 includes a list of channels 110, a time schedule120, a grid display 130 of programs, and a description section 140 forconveying additional text information about the programs. The programsare displayed consecutively for each channel in the form of a grid. Theprior art guide 100, however, is deficient for many reasons. The priorart guide 100 typically includes content from only a single contentprovider (i.e. a broadcast television network having a predeterminedschedule). Thus, the prior art guide 100 does not provide the viewerwith the capability of, or comprehensive information about, purchasingor receiving pay-per-view events, on demand programming, streaming mediacontent off the Internet, accessing content from two or more providersat the same guide, or accessing content from consumer electronic devicessuch as DVD players and VCRs. The prior art guide 100 also has a statictime range and can only display shows within that time range. As shownin FIG. 1, the time schedule 120 displays two hours of scheduleinformation. In the case of a two-hour movie, the viewer is not providedwith any information as to what program will appear immediatelyfollowing the two-hour movie. The viewer is also left with the burden ofnavigating through the guide by scrolling back and forth. In addition,the prior art guide 100 does not provide display information showingwhere, for example, a selected program is being played. For example, ina modem home entertainment system where the viewer can play a DVDlocated in the family room on a television located in a bedroom, theprior art guide 100 does not have the capability of visually displayingwhat content is being displayed by what output device.

What is needed is an electronic programming guide that is adaptable tovarious sources of content such as scheduled-based broadcast content,digitally stream-able on-demand multimedia content, and controllableconsumer electronic devices. What is also needed is a programming guidethat includes both the sources of content available to a user as well asany output device or devices for displaying the content sources.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an electronic programming guide that isadaptable to various sources of content such as scheduled-basedbroadcast content, digitally stream-able on-demand multimedia content,and controllable consumer electronic devices. In accordance with apreferred embodiment, the programming guide of the present invention caninclude both the sources of content available to a user as well as anyoutput device or devices for displaying the content sources. The presentinvention further provides a system and method for implementing theelectronic programming guide.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, anelectronic content guide is disclosed. The electronic content guidecomprises a source field for listing content sources and output devices;and a first content field for listing schedule data corresponding tofirst content data presently available for viewing from each one of thecontent sources and for listing display information corresponding to thefirst content data being displayed for viewing at a present time by eachone of the output devices.

Preferably, the source field and the first content field are displayablein parallel columns. The content sources can include at least one of:scheduled broadcast content; non-scheduled broadcast content; andconsumer source devices. The scheduled broadcast content can include,for example: a network station, a cable channel, a satellite-basedchannel, and a pay-per-view channel, or a scheduled digital networkbroadcast (such as a scheduled internet broadcast). The non-scheduledcontent can include, for example: on-demand programming, streaming mediacontent, and downloadable media files. The consumer source devices caninclude at least one of: a DVD player, a television tuner, a VCR, a PVR,an MP3 player, a digital video recorder, a PDA, a gaming system, acellular telephone, and a computer.

Preferably, the electronic content guide includes content data from atleast two distinct content providers. However, the content data of thedifferent content providers is not presented separately, but effectivelymerged in a single table in the schedule. Therefore, the differencebetween the various content providers is not readily apparent to theuser.

Preferably, the first content data corresponding to the scheduledbroadcast content comprise a program title and a corresponding programtime. Preferably, the first content data corresponding to thenon-scheduled content comprise a program title and an indication ofavailability (such as, for example, an indication that content isavailable on demand). Preferably, the first content data correspondingto the consumer source device comprise a program title and a statusidentifier. Preferably, the first content data corresponding to theoutput devices comprise a program title and a status identifier.Alternatively, the first content data corresponding to the outputdevices comprise the location of a different output device which isbeing “followed” by the present output device. The output devices caninclude at least one of: a stereo speaker, a computer monitor, acomputer speaker, a display device, a network media player, a gamingsystem, and/or a storage device.

The electronic content guide can further include a second content field,displayable in a column parallel to the source field and the firstcontent field, corresponding to a second content data. Preferably, thesecond content data corresponding to the scheduled broadcast content cancomprise a program title that is immediately available for viewing fromthe content sources after completion of the presently available firstcontent data, wherein the program title includes a corresponding programtime. Preferably, the second content data corresponding to thenon-scheduled content comprises a download time and a download orviewing fee, progress of download, download speed, and/or messagesrelating to download (such as network outage messages). The secondcontent data corresponding to non-scheduled content may periodicallyswitch its display between two or more of the above listed indications.Preferably, the second content data corresponding to the consumer sourcedevices comprise a physical location of the consumer source devices.Preferably, the second content data corresponding to the output devicescomprise a physical location of the output devices where the firstcontent data are being displayed. The electronic content guide canfurther include a descriptor field for displaying a detailed descriptionof each content source, each output device, the first content data, andthe second content data.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, anelectronic content guide is disclosed. The electronic content guideincludes a source field for listing content sources and output devices.The electronic content guide also includes a first content field forlisting schedule data corresponding to first content data presentlyavailable for viewing from the content sources and for listing displayinformation corresponding to the first content data being displayed forviewing at a present time by the output devices. The electronic contentguide further includes a second content field for listing schedule datacorresponding to second content data that are immediately available forviewing from the content sources after completion of the presentlyavailable first content data and for listing locations of the outputdevices where the first content data are being displayed. Preferably,the source field, the first content field and the second content fieldare displayable in parallel columns. The electronic content guide canalso include a descriptor field for displaying a detailed description ofeach content source, each output device, the first content data, and thesecond content data.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, anelectronic content guide is disclosed. The electronic content guideincludes a source field for listing content sources and output devices;and a first content field for listing schedule data corresponding tofirst content data presently available for viewing from the contentsources and for listing display information corresponding to the firstcontent data being displayed for viewing at a present time by each oneof the output devices; wherein the first content data from each contentsource can be displayed simultaneously on more than one of the outputdevices. The electronic content guide can also include a second contentfield, displayable in a column parallel to the source field and thefirst content field, corresponding to a second content data. Theelectronic content guide can also include a descriptor field fordisplaying a detailed description of each content source, each outputdevice, the first content data, and the second content data.

A consumer source device, or a non-scheduled content source may be amultiple item content source. A multiple item content source may bepresented in the schedule as multiple content sources, or as a singlecontent source, wherein additional menus are used to select a particularitem.

The present electronic programming guide may also offer a searchfunction which would allow a user to search for a particular item ofcontent.

Because of the presence of multiple content sources, multiple instancesof the same content item may be available at the same time fromdifferent sources. The present invention may rank these multipleversions according to applicable factors. The rankings may be used tochoose the display order of the multiple versions, or whether someversions are displayed at all.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a prior art on-screen programming guide for listing contentproviders and corresponding program availabilities.

FIG. 2 shows an on-screen programming guide adaptable for listingmultiple content source providers, including source listings, contentlistings and availabilities, and output devices for displaying the mediacontent, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment for the representation of a multipleitem content source.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment for the representation of a multipleitem content source.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a system for implementing embodimentsof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 2 shows an on-screen programming guide adaptable for listingmultiple content source providers, including source listings, contentlistings and availabilities, and output devices for displaying the mediacontent, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

A content source provider is an entity that provides content to theuser. Thus, a content source provider may be a cable service, asatellite dish service, a broadcast TV tower emitting a plurality of TVchannels available over the air, or a digital network. A content sourceis a single source of content, such as a Television channel, or awebsite or server available over the digital network. A content sourceprovider usually provides multiple content sources.

Digital devices, such as DVD, VCR, players, attachable hard-drives, MP3players, game systems, etc. may be considered both content sourceproviders and content sources. In other words, a DVD player is a contentsource provider that includes a single content source—the DVD playeritself.

The guide 200 comprises multiple entries, with each entry representingone of plurality of rows. The entries describe a number of contentsources 211 and output devices 212 within a source field 210. The guide200 also includes a first content field 220 for listing schedule datacorresponding to first content data 221 presently available for viewingfrom the content sources 211 and for listing display informationcorresponding to the first content data 221 being displayed for viewingat a present time by the output devices 212. The guide 200 can furtherinclude a second content field 230 for listing schedule datacorresponding to second content data 231 that are immediately availablefor viewing from the content sources 211 after completion of thepresently available first content data 221 and for listing locations ofthe output devices 212 where the first content data 221 are beingdisplayed. The second content field 230 can also include download andpricing information, if applicable, for the content sources 221. Thesecond content field can even include source location information, ifapplicable, for the content sources 221. Preferably, the source field210, the first content field 220 and the second content field 230 areall displayable in parallel columns with each other using a grid format240. The guide 200 can also include a descriptor field 250 fordisplaying a detailed description of each content source 211, eachoutput device 212, the first content data 221 and the second contentdata 231.

The content sources 211 within the source field 210 can comprisescheduled broadcast content, non-scheduled content, and consumer sourcedevices. The scheduled broadcast content can include at least one of: anetwork station, a cable channel, a satellite-based channel, and apay-per-view channel. The non-scheduled content can include at least oneof: on-demand programming, streaming media content, and downloadablemultimedia files. The consumer source devices can include at least oneof: a DVD player, a VCR, a PVR, an MP3 Player, a digital video recorder,a television tuner a PDA, a cellular telephone, a gaming system, and acomputer. For example, the content sources 211 within the source field210 comprise the network stations Ch. 2 KTVU-FOX, Ch. 4 KRON-NBC, Ch. 5KPIX-CBS; the downloadable file from the Internet (Atom Films); and theconsumer source device Home Device DVD player. Other content sources canalso be included within the source field 210.

The output devices 212 within the source field 210 can include at leastone of: a television, a stereo speaker, a computer monitor, a computerspeaker, a display device, a network media player, a gaming system, anda storage device. For example, the output devices 212 within the sourcefield 210 comprise two Home Device Televisions. In one embodiment, thetelevisions display content from any one of the content sources 211.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the firstcontent data 221 corresponding to the scheduled broadcast contentcomprise a program title and a corresponding program time. For example,within the first content field 220 an entry for Show A is listed asbeing available from Ch. 2 KTVU-FOX. The Show A has a start time of 1:00PM and a finish time of 1:30 PM. Also, within the first content field220 an entry for Show C is listed as being available from Ch. 4KRON-NBC. The Show C has a start time of 1:00 PM and a finish time of2:00 PM. Further, within the first content field 220 an entry for Show Eis listed as being available from Ch. 5 KPIX-CBS. The Show E has a starttime of 12:30 PM and a finish time of 4:30 PM.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the firstcontent data 221 corresponding to the non-scheduled content comprise aprogram title and an indication of availability. For example, within thefirst content field 220 an entry for Short Film G is listed as beingavailable from the Internet. The Short Film G's indication ofavailability is “on demand”, thus it has no program start time.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the firstcontent data 221 corresponding to the consumer source devices comprise aprogram title and a status identifier. For example, within the firstcontent field 220 an entry for Film H is listed as being available fromthe Home Device DVD Player. In this example, the Film H is recorded on aDVD. As mentioned above, the consumer source device listed on the guide200 can be any consumer source device, such as a VCR, PVR an MP3 player,television tuner, a digital video recorder, a PDA, a cellular telephoneor computer that displays its content on an output device such as atelevision.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the firstcontent data 221 corresponding to the output devices comprise a programtitle and a status identifier. For example, within the first contentfield 220 an entry for Show A is listed as being sent to and displayedby a first Home Device television. The entry for Show A also lists thefirst television as being “on” next to “Status”. Thus, the guide 200lists Show A as being displayed on the first television, which is “on”.Also, within the first content field 220 an entry for Living Room TV islisted as being available from a second Home Device television. However,as will be explained more fully below in connection with the secondcontent field 230, the Living Room TV is actually the first televisionand the second television is a Bedroom TV. In this example, as the guide200 shows, the Living Room TV is watching the Show A, and the Bedroom TVis watching what the Living Room TV is watching; in other words, theBedroom TV is following the Living Room TV. Thus, Show A is beingdisplayed on both the first television (Living Room TV) and the secondtelevision (Bedroom TV).

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention and asmentioned above, the second content field 230, which is displayable in acolumn parallel to the source field 210 and the first content field 220,corresponds to the second content data 231. In one embodiment, thesecond content data 231 corresponding to the scheduled broadcast contentcomprise a program title that is immediately available for viewing fromthe content sources 211 after completion of the presently availablefirst content data 221. The program title of the scheduled broadcastcontent includes a corresponding program time. For example, withinsecond content field 230 a Show B is listed as being available from theCh. 2 KTVU-FOX immediately following completion of the Show A. The ShowB has a start time of 1:30 PM and a finish time of 2:00 PM. Also, withinthe second content field 230 a Show D is listed as being available fromthe Ch. 4 KRON-NBC immediately following completion of the Show C. TheShow D has a start time of 2:00 PM and a finish time of 3:00 PM.Further, within the second content field 230 a Show F is listed as beingavailable from the Ch. 5 KPIX-CBS immediately following completion ofthe Show E. The Show F has a start time of 4:30 PM and a finish time of5:00 PM. Unlike the grid format of the prior art guide 100 which has astatic time range and can only display programs within that time range,the guide 200 of the present invention shows what program is nextavailable following the completion of the presently available program nomatter what time the next program comes on. In the FIG. 2, this is shownon the rows whose sources are Ch. 2 KTVU-FOX, Ch. 4 KRON-NBC, and Ch. 5KPIX-CBS.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the second content data 231corresponding to the non-scheduled content comprise a download time anda download or viewing fee, if applicable. For example, the Short Film Glisted in the first content field 220 has a download time of 1:06:23(estimated) and no download or viewing fee, which are listed in thesecond content field 230. In addition, the second content data of ShortFilm G may include download progress, download speed, and/or messagesrelating to download (such as network outage messages). The secondcontent data may change periodically between two or more of the abovelisted indications.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the second content data 231corresponding to the consumer source devices comprise a physicallocation of the consumer source devices. For example, the Home DeviceDVD Player listed under the source field 210 is physically located inthe Living Room under the second content field 230. Thus, a viewer usingthe guide 200 can realize that the Home Device DVD Player, which hasloaded the DVD Film H, is actually the DVD Player located in the livingroom.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the second content datacorresponding to the output devices comprise a physical location of theoutput devices where the first content data are being displayed. Forexample, within the second content field 230, an entry for Living RoomTV and Bedroom TV are listed on the rows whose sources are First HomeDevice TV and Second Home Device TV, respectively. The First Home DeviceTV is actually the television located in the living room. Similarly, theSecond Home Device TV is actually the television located in the bedroom.As shown on the guide 200, the Living Room TV is presently playing ShowA while the Bedroom TV is playing what the Living Room TV is playing,i.e. the Show A.

In another embodiment of the present invention, content referred to bythe first content data from each content source 211 can be displayedsimultaneously on more than one of the output devices 212. This novelfeature of the present invention allows, for example, two viewers, onelocated in the living room the other in the bedroom, to simultaneouslyview the same on-demand program listed in the first content field 220.This feature is especially useful in home entertainment systems withmultiple source devices and output devices all interconnected with oneanother.

In another embodiment of the present invention and still referring toFIG. 2, the guide 200 can include a descriptor field 250 for displayinga detailed description of each content source 211, each output device212, the first content data 221, and the second content data 231. Thedescriptor field preferably comprises an area for listing more detailedinformation about each selected item. For example, the descriptor field250 can include a detailed description of a television program selectedand/or status information of an output device.

Preferably, the electronic content guide includes content data from atleast two distinct content source providers. Therefore, the contentguide may include content data from two different cable services, or acable service and a satellite service. Thus, for example, the ‘Ch. 2KTVU-FOX’ content source may be provided by a cable service, while the‘Ch. 5 KPIX-CBS’ content source may be provided by a satellite service.However, the content sources of the different content source providersare not visually or functionally segregated at the schedule. In otherwords, the present invention preferably combines the content sources 211into a single universal schedule (or Universal Content Guide) and notinto several distinct schedules each associated with a respectivecontent provider.

Thus, the Universal Content Guide as shown in FIG. 2 creates an overallimpression that the content sources are in fact all a part of a singlecontent source provider. The universal guide may provide some indicationof which content source provider each content source belongs to. Forexample, the Universal Content Guide may show a sign or an icon whichindicates if ‘Ch. 5 KPIX-CBS’ (for example) is provided by a traditionalbroadcast, cable or satellite service. However, since the content is notnecessarily organized by content source provider, specific knowledge ofthe various content source providers is not required for a user to beable to browse the Universal Content Guide or utilize the searchfunctionality.

A non-scheduled content source may be a multiple item content source. Inother words, it may simultaneously offer multiple items of content.Examples of such sources include an Internet server, which offersmultiple items of content, or an on-demand service which includesmultiple TV-shows, or movies, etc. A consumer source device may also bea multiple item content source. An example may be a multiple disk DVDplayer, a high capacity storage device, with multiple items of contentloaded thereon, or a PVR with multiple items of content loaded thereon.

FIG. 3 shows a multiple item content source according to anotherembodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the multipleitem content source may be presented in the schedule as multiple contentsources, each content source corresponding to a single item of themultiple item content source. For example, a single multiple itemcontent source—HBO on demand™—offers a plurality of items, such asmovies A, B and C. The movies are represented as different records 301,302, and 303, respectively and thus they appear as different contentsources.

FIG. 4 shows a multiple item content source in accordance with yetanother embodiment of the present invention. According to thisembodiment, the multiple item content source may be represented as asingle content source. In this case, additional menus allow choosing aspecific item from the content source. Thus, upon selecting record 401,a user will be presented with an additional menu 402 that shows themultiple items of the multiple item content source. Upon selecting anitem from the additional menu, the user may be presented with yetanother menu 403 showing detailed information about a particular item aswell as allowing the user to view that item.

The present electronic programming guide may also offer a searchfunction which would allow a user to search for a particular content.The search may be based on the name of a particular piece of content,the name of the source of the content, or a description of the content,or other metadata. The search function may encompass each item of amultiple item content source, regardless of which embodiment is used todisplay these items. Thus, if the second embodiment is used and thespecific items of a multiple item content source are thus ‘hidden’ fromthe top level schedule, the search function may be used to access theseitems even if the name of the content source is not known.

Due to the possible presence of multiple content source providers,multiple instances of the same content item may be available at the sametime from different sources. For example, if the content sources includeboth a cable and a satellite TV input, two instances of the same channelmay be offered by the satellite and cable systems respectively.Alternatively, the same movie or other program may be offered by twodifferent channels, or by a channel, and a DVD placed within a DVDdrive, or by a channel and an internet content provider, etc. If that isthe case, the present invention may rank the multiple instances of thesame content according to predefined criteria. The highest rankedinstance may be listed at a relatively high place in the schedule. Theother instances may be listed at the end of the schedule, or they maynot be listed at all. This would remove clutter and make the scheduleeasier to navigate.

An indication may be shown at the representation of the highest rankedinstance to alert the user that additional instances are available. Theuser may be shown a menu of the additional instances if he/she selectsthe indication.

A content guide in accordance of the present invention may rank theinstances according to various different criteria. For example, inaccordance with one embodiment, technical criteria may be used to rankthe listing. Technical criteria may include the suitability of aparticular version of content to be displayed on an output device (suchas a TV set) the user is viewing. Thus, the pixel or color resolution,the media encoding format, the aspect ratio may indicate differentlevels of compatibility between the various versions of the content andthe output device. Thus the version of the content which is mostcompatible with the output device would be ranked highest.

It should be noted that various incompatibilities between certainversion of content and an output device may be resolved by reprocessingthe content. For example, aspect ratio incompatibilities may be resolvedby adding ‘black bands’, the content may be converted to a compatibleformat and resolutions may be upgraded and downgraded. Nevertheless, itis preferable that when multiple versions of content are available theversion which is the most compatible with the output device is selected.This is the case because resolving the various compatibilities oftendegrades the quality of content. For example, content which is upgradedto a higher resolution usually is of worse quality than content whichwas originally sampled (e.g., filmed) at the higher resolution.

In addition to technical criteria, preference criteria may be used.Preference criteria refer not to technical compatibilities but to thepreferences of the user. Preference criteria may include, whetherviewing the content requires additional payment, whether viewing thecontent requires waiting for a download, the language in which thecontent is presented, the availability of subtitles or closedcaptioning, whether the content is presented in its original version orwhether it has been cut or altered, whether the content may be pausedwhile viewing, and whether viewing a particular version of the contentwould engage a device which could be otherwise useful for otherpurposes.

The user may select which criteria are to be used and how much weighteach criteria is to be given. Computer devices implementing embodimentsof the present invention compute the ranking of the various versions ofa particular piece of content according to the thus selected criteria.

In an alternative embodiment, the present invention may not reordercontent sources in the schedule according to their ranking. Instead itmay automatically switch the source of a particular content item theuser has selected with a higher ranked version of that same content itemavailable from another content source. Thus, for example, if a userselects a sports game from the NBC channel, and the same sports game isavailable in high definition at the NBC (HD) channel, and the user has aHigh Definition Television set compatible with the NBC (HD) channel, thepresent invention may automatically switch the user's Television to theNBC (HD) channel.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the present invention may notrank repeating content sources at all. Instead it may treat all contentsources that include the same content at a certain time as beingessentially identical. In this embodiment, multiple content sources thatprovide the same content at the same time are shown as single genericcontent source. If the user selects the generic content source, theunderlying system may select which one of the multiple content sourcesto display based on algorithms designed to optimize internal systemresources, such as the tuning capacity, or the network bandwidth of thesystem. In an alternative embodiment, the present system may rankrepeating sources but it may also include an optimization factor in therankings, the optimization factor indicating how much benefit aparticular source would have on the overall efficiency of use of systemresources, such tuners, bandwidth, etc.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an example system for implementing the variousembodiments of the present invention. The schedule utilized in theinstant invention is preferably an electronic program schedule 200 thatis displayable on an electronic device, such as a television screen 501or computer screen 503. The schedule 200 may be supported through acomputer 505 which hosts the hardware and software to support anddisplay the program schedule 200 on the screens 501 and/or 503. A useris preferably capable of selecting a program from the programavailabilities listed on the schedule 200 with a suitable control deviceincluding a mouse 506, a key board, 507 and/or an infrared remotecontrol 511. The monitors can be equipped with infrared sensors 510and/or 510′ that are responsive to commands from the infrared remotecontrol 511. Alternatively, the computer 505 may be equipped with aninterface for the remote control. Furthermore, the computer may beequipped with infrared transmitters with which it may control thetelevision 501.

Still referring to FIG. 5, a local area network 530 preferably couplesthe computer 505 with media playing appliances, such as a VCR playerand/or a DVD player 509 as well as other content source providers, suchas cable service 535, satellite service 536, or ordinary broadcastsignal receiver 537. These content source providers may also beconnected to the TV set through ordinary means (e.g. various coaxial andaudio visual cables). The computer 505 is also preferably coupled to theinternet 515 through a suitable connection, such that selected on-demandprograms are capable of being transmitted to the computer 505 from aremote server via the internet. The television 501 can also be coupledto program providers through a cable network 535 to receive scheduledprograms listed on the program schedule 200.

In a preferred method of the instant invention the electronic programschedule 200 is generated from a list of user preferences. Userpreferences can include, but are not limited to selected content sourceproviders, user likes, user dislikes, criteria for selection of contentwhen multiple versions are available and/or user availabilities. Adistribution network provides a link between a user location and aremote server which stores the user preferences and the electronicprogram schedule in a user account. The user can access his/her accountthrough the network to view the schedule and/or modify the account togenerate an updated program schedule. In another embodiment of theinstant invention, the program schedule is automatically updated. Forexample, the system and network can be configured to automaticallyupdate the program schedule based on the user's habits, suchautomatically added programs selected from previous version of theuser's schedule.

The computer 505 can be a central hub for content data distribution. Thecomputer 505 monitors content data availabilities from the contentsource providers and organizes the program availabilities intocustomized program schedules. The computer preferably includes a memoryand a generally programmable central processing unit (CPU). The memoryincludes instructions which when executed by the CPU realize thefunctionality discussed above. The computer may be an embedded device.

The present invention can be supported with any number of networkarchitectures, hardware and software. Therefore, the present inventionhas been described in terms of specific embodiments incorporatingdetails to facilitate the understanding of the principles ofconstruction and operation of the invention. Such reference herein tospecific embodiments and details thereof is not intended to limit thescope of the claims appended hereto. It will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that modifications can be made in the embodimentchosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

1. A system for providing an improved universal schedule comprising: aprogramming server operatively coupled to an output device and aplurality of content source providers and comprising a CPU and a memory,the memory further comprising executable instructions which whenexecuted by the CPU cause the server to send signals to the outputdevice, the signals being operative to: display a universal contentguide; and display a plurality of entries in the universal contentguide, wherein each entry is associated with and describes a contentsource available from one of the plurality of content source providers,wherein content sources from at least two different content sourceproviders are described by the entries.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the entries are not grouped according to the content sourceproviders their associated content sources are available from.
 3. Thesystem of claim 2, wherein the memory further includes instructionswhich cause the computer to: receive a communication from a user whichindicates that one of the entries is selected by the user; and cause theoutput device to play the content source associated with the selectedentry.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the memory further includesinstructions which cause the computer to: receive a communication from auser which indicates that one of the entries is selected by the user;find the content source associated with that entry; identify the contentbeing currently presented by that content source; search other contentsources for different instances of said content, in order to obtain aset of plurality of instances of said content; apply one or morecriteria to the set of instances of said content; identify an instanceof said content that satisfies the one or more criteria to the highestdegree; and cause the output device to play the identified instance ofsaid content.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the one or more criteriaare selected from the group comprising: pixel resolution, colorresolution, media encoding format, aspect ratio, payment requirements,download requirements, language, availability of subtitles or closedcaptioning, alteration of content from its original version, ability topause content while viewing, and an optimization factor.
 6. The systemof claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of content sourceproviders is chosen from the group consisting of: a cable service, asatellite service, a free broadcast service, a DVD player, a VCR player,an MP3 player, a mass storage device, and a network based video ondemand service.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one of theplurality of content source providers is an Internet server.
 8. Thesystem of claim 6, wherein at least two of the multiple content sourceproviders each provide multiple content sources, each content source ofthe multiple content sources being a television channel.
 9. The systemof claim 1, wherein a multiple item content source is available from atleast one of the content source providers, the multiple item contentsource comprising a plurality of items of content which are allavailable on demand.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the memorycomprises further executable instructions which when executed by the CPUcause the computer to send signals to the output device, the signalsbeing operative to: display a second plurality of entries in theuniversal content guide, wherein each entry is associated with anddescribes a content item available from the multiple item contentsource.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein the memory comprises furtherexecutable instructions which when executed by the CPU cause thecomputer to send signals to the output device, the signals beingoperative to: display an additional single entry in the universalcontent guide, the additional single entry being associated with themultiple item content source; receive a communication from a userindicating the user's selection of the additional entry; and display anadditional menu showing a plurality of second records respectivelyassociated with each content item comprised by the multiple item contentsource.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the memory comprises furtherexecutable instructions which when executed by the CPU cause thecomputer to send signals to the output device, the signals beingoperative to: receive a communication from the user indicating that theuser has selected one of the plurality of second records; and cause theoutput device to play the content item associated with the selectedrecord.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises furtherexecutable instructions which when executed by the CPU cause thecomputer to send signals to the output device, the signals beingoperative to: find a set of content sources available from the pluralityof content source providers, the set of content sources presenting thesame content item at the same time, apply one or more criteria to thecontent sources of the set of content sources to obtain an individualranking for each content source, and modify the display of plurality ofentries for the content sources of the set of content sources in theuniversal content guide, the modification being based on the individualrankings of the content sources.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein theplurality of entries for the content sources of the set of contentsources are displayed in descending order of their individual rankings.15. The system of claim 13, wherein a set of repeating content sourcesinclude the same content item available at the same time, and themodification of the display includes removing all but one or more of thehighest ranked of the set of repeating content sources.
 16. The systemof claim 13, wherein the one or more criteria are selected from thegroup comprising: pixel resolution, color resolution, media encodingformat, aspect ratio, payment requirements, download requirements,language, availability of subtitles or closed captioning, alteration ofcontent from its original version, ability to pause content whileviewing, and an optimization factor.
 17. A method for providing animproved universal schedule comprising the steps of: displaying auniversal content guide at the output device; and displaying a pluralityof entries in the universal content guide, wherein each entry isassociated with and describes a content source available from one of aplurality of content source providers, wherein content sources from atleast two different content source providers are described by theentries.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the entries are not groupedaccording to the content source providers their associated contentsources are available from.
 19. The method of claim 18, furtherincluding the steps of: receiving a communication from a user whichindicates that one of the entries is selected by the user; and causingthe output device to play the content source associated with theselected entry.
 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the stepsof: receiving a communication from a user indicating that one of theentries is selected by the user; finding the content source associatedwith that entry; identifying the content being currently presented bythat content source; searching other content sources for differentinstances of said content, in order to obtain a set of plurality ofinstances of said content; applying one or more criteria to the set ofinstances of said content; identifying an instance of said content thatsatisfies the one or more criteria to the highest degree; and causingthe output device to play the identified instance of said content. 21.The method of claim 20, wherein the one or more criteria are selectedfrom the group comprising: pixel resolution, color resolution, mediaencoding format, aspect ratio, payment requirements, downloadrequirements, language, availability of subtitles or closed captioning,alteration of content from its original version, ability to pausecontent while viewing, and an optimization factor.
 22. The method ofclaim 17, wherein at least one of the plurality of content sourceproviders is chosen from the group consisting of: a cable service, asatellite service, a free broadcast service, a DVD player, a VCR player,an MP3 player, a mass storage device, and a network based video ondemand service.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein at least one of theplurality of content source providers is an Internet server.
 24. Themethod of claim 18, wherein at least two of the plurality of contentsource providers each provide multiple content sources, each contentsource of the multiple content sources being a television channel. 25.The method of claim 17, wherein a multiple item content source isavailable from at least one of the content source providers, themultiple item content source comprising a plurality of items of contentwhich are all available on demand.
 26. The method of claim 25, furthercomprising the step of: displaying a second plurality of entries in theuniversal content guide, wherein each entry is associated with anddescribes a content item available from the multiple item contentsource.
 27. The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:displaying an additional single entry in the universal content guide,the additional single entry being associated with the multiple itemcontent source; receiving a communication from a user indicating theuser's selection of the additional single entry; and displaying anadditional menu showing a plurality of second records respectivelyassociated with each content item comprised by the multiple item contentsource.
 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of:receiving a communication from the user indicating that the user hasselected one of the plurality of second records; and causing the outputdevice to play the content item associated with the selected record. 29.The method of claim 17, further including the steps of: finding a set ofcontent sources available from the plurality of content sourceproviders, the plurality of content sources presenting the same contentitem at the same time, applying one or more criteria to the contentsources of the set of content sources to obtain an individual rankingfor each content source, and modifying the display of plurality ofentries for the content sources of the set of content sources in theuniversal content guide, the modification being based on the individualrankings of the content sources.
 30. The method of claim 29, wherein theplurality of entries for the content sources of the set of contentsources are displayed in descending order of their individual rankings.31. The method of claim 29, wherein a set of repeating content sourcesinclude the same content item available at the same time, and themodification of the display includes removing all but the highest rankedof the set of repeating content sources.
 32. The method of claim 29,wherein the one or more criteria are selected from the group comprising:pixel resolution, color resolution, media encoding format, aspect ratio,payment requirements, download requirements, language, availability ofsubtitles or closed captioning, alteration of content from its originalversion, ability to pause content while viewing, and an optimizationfactor.